London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

There is a buzz in the capital at the moment so why not make the most of your evenings?

In the past few years, many amazing new tapas bars have popped up throughout London.

But it would seem that there is a bigger trend with which stylish Londoners are falling in love – that of a more informal, almost European way of eating out and socialising. Rather than sitting down for a full, fairly formal meal, an increasing number of people are opting for delicious nibbles, sharing platters and bite-size foods that are perfect for enjoying with drinks while catching up with friends and colleagues. Think of it as a new style of ‘Aperitivo’ that lasts the whole evening!

At MARTINI, true to our Italian origins, we like to say ‘why not?’and meet friends for a drink after work – it’s the perfect way to finish the day...

We like to call this time ‘the Playful Hour’. And the Playful Hour deserves a playful drink.

The MARTINI Royale has been created with this in mind.

It is a refreshing mix of 50 per cent MARTINI Bianco and 50 per cent Prosecco served with a squeeze of lime over plenty of ice – simply delicious on its own or enjoyed with food.

So why not call a few friends, join the Playful Hour and see where the evening takes you? Have fun!

A few suggestions on where to enjoy your Playful Hour

Bunga Bunga: This trendy Italian bar and pizzeria fully embraces the fun factor. Every night a range of performances take place, including opera singers, Elvis impersonators and karaoke. Try the special Aperitivo Menu of scrumptious light bites and get a complimentary Nduja Bruschetta when you order a MARTINI Royale (bungabungalondon.com).

All Bar One: From Regent Street to the City, these stylish wine bars have sharing platters on the menu that make perfect accompaniments to the MARTINI Royale (allbarone.co.uk).

Madison: With unbeatable views over St Paul’s Cathedral, Madison has a great Cocktail & Tapas Bar. The menu includes a variety of delicious small plates that you can enjoy with a refreshing MARTINI Royale in hand on their stunning terrace (madisonlondon.net).

CONGRATULATIONS to Elizabeth Griffi ths, who has been chosen by our international judges Christian Louboutin and Sarah Curran, founder of my-wardbrobe.com, to represent the UK in the MARTINI ROYALE CASTING. Elizabeth is now on her way to Ibiza to show the judges why she should become the next MARTINI star!